UN Women and KOICA launched the first-ever D4WEE Exchange, bringing talented women from Swabi, Mardan, Peshawar, Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan to Korea’s innovation centres for an intensive learning and networking visit. The delegation arrived ready to engage with cutting-edge tech institutions and explore practical pathways for collaboration between Pakistan and Korea.
On day one the group toured Seoul Startup Hub Gongdeok to see how incubation and entrepreneurship support is structured in a global tech hub. Participants learned about digital transformation strategies at the National Information Society Agency (NIA) and examined gendered innovations at GISTeR, where research and gender perspectives intersect to shape inclusive technologies. The visit also included discussions about Korea’s evolving approach from mainstream AI toward concepts of Artificial Super Intelligence, sparking debate and curiosity among the visitors.
A focal moment was the deep-dive session titled Women in STEM & AI: Leading the Future of Innovation, where attendees shared ideas, pitched early-stage concepts and received feedback from Korean tech leaders. The D4WEE Exchange provided direct exposure to practical tools and networks that can support women-led ventures and projects back home.
The programme emphasised active participation: Pakistani delegates asked bold questions, connected with mentors and began mapping potential collaborations that link local innovation ecosystems in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Korean partners. By bringing these exchanges into reality, the D4WEE Exchange aims to strengthen women’s roles in science, technology and entrepreneurship and to create sustainable channels for knowledge and economic growth.
The experience on day one set the tone for continued collaboration, with participants returning to Pakistan equipped with new contacts, fresh ideas and a clearer view of how to scale innovation with gender-responsive approaches. The D4WEE Exchange seeks to turn these connections into concrete projects that empower women and contribute to broader economic development.
